I was out of my typical Urban Decay Primer Potion, low on cash, and needed an alternative — fast, even if it would only be temporary.  I hurried to my local Ulta in hopes to find something, anything that would possibly suffice.   As I rummaged through the mass cosmetics, I saw something new; NYX Eyeshadow Base.  I figured, what the heck and grabbed it in white (it comes in white, pearl, and skin tone).  Keeping my fingers crossed, I headed home to see how well it would work in comparison.

Holy cow!  I was surprised.  This stuff was so easy to work with (easier than when I first started using the UDPP, which can be confusing for beginners), and it didn’t take much.  Plus, the vibrancy of the color as I applied it completely made my day.  What a nice, affordable alternative.

Price: $6 USD
Availability: Ultas, drugstores, and of course online at nyxcosmetics.com and cherryculture.com
Rating:
Product Details (taken from nyxcosmetics.com):
To get the maximum brilliant color of eyeshadow on your eye, an eye primer is a must!  Apply eyeshadow base to eyelids, then apply NYX’s high pigmented eyeshadows and see the colors pop with vibrant and sparkling luster.  Eyeshadow base grabs and firmly holds finely milled powder so the color in the pot is what ends up on your eye — not a pinch lost.

Product Pros:

• CHEAP!  This stuff is only $6 MSRP.
• Comes in a pearl base, a skin tone base, and a white base.  Handy!
• Can be applied easily with fingers or a brush.
• Packaging makes it easy to access all the product (unlike UDPP).
• Makes eyeshadow last!
• The vibrancy and color payoff is better than with many eyeshadow bases, including UDPP and TFSI.

Product Cons:

• NYX can be hard to find for some people who don’t live near an Ulta or a drugstore that carries it.
• Packaging.  While it’s great to access the product, can be a little bit unsanitary since it’s a pot if you’re using it on clients.
• I have had it crease…. Only twice, and I’ve been using it for well over a month now — so not too shabby, but still a concern.

Would I recommend this product?  Yes.  Do I plan on purchasing it again?  You bet!  In fact, I plan on selling it in my online make-up store (whenever I get that up and running) to bring everyone cost effective beauty.  NYX has always been good about bringing us affordable products that are great in quality, this is no exception.

Readers, have you tried this product?  What did you think?

Price: $12
Availability: Mary Kay representatives, Mary Kay website (clicking there will send you to my representative, who is the only Mary Kary rep I’ve ever dealt with that didn’t force products on me and only recommended colors she thought would look good or knew I would like — I highly recommend buying from her!)
Rating:

Product Details: Here’s the perfect primer to help you create eye looks that grab attention. This waterproof formula creates a foundation so your eye colors glide on smoothly and stay perfectly in place longer – without creasing or smudging. It’s proven to extend and intensify eye color.

Product Pros:

• Definitely keeps color on.
• Not as dry as other primers; easy to work with.
• Eyeshadows blend flawlessly on top, would especially be good with those difficult matte eyeshadows we all have that are nearly impossible to blend!
• Water resistant!
• Looks white, but dries clear.
• Great value for how much you get.
• Love the packaging — super easy to get the product out without contaminating the product.  Plus it’s classy.

Product Cons:

• ?

Not only did I decide to try this product out on my eyes — I decided to put it on the back of my hand, with some shadow on top!  Hands get far more wear, and with us washing them, it’s good to see how waterproof this stuff really is.

I didn’t really notice any fading, and I seemed to have to scrub to get it off after it had set completely.  Doesn’t budge is right!

It’s such a wonderful value — I might keep a bottle just for my kit, as it’s easier to work with than other eyeshadow primers.  It’s more smooth, less dry, and you can tell it is silicone based — making it extra creamy and easy to apply.

Overall, I would recommend this product to any make up user, professional or otherwise.

This is probably one of the most common questions encountered by a new make up user.  To shell out the money and get an eyeshadow base, or not to.

I highly recommend an eyeshadow base, you’ll get some massive benefits from using one.  Including:

Your eyeshadow is going to last considerably longer.  Many eyeshadow bases are waterproof, or infused with silicone (giving it waterproof-like properties), which also helps create a barrier between your shadow and the oil that naturally comes out on your eyelids.
Your eyeshadow is going to be brighter as well as long-lasting!  The color is going to be much more vibrant, and true to the color you see in the pan (or jar).  Eyeshadow bases have some great pigment-binding properties, clinging your eyeshadow to it to give you some great color payoff.
You can use your eyeshadow base (at least most of them) in OTHER areas on your face as well.  Like, the edges of your nose where your foundation wears off.  Or underneath your eye, for those of you who wear eyeliner or eyeshadow underneath your eyes, or have that issue of your mascara running into those itty bitty fine lines!  It will help to prevent that, fab, right?

There are many different eyeshadow bases at your disposal, so everyone will be able to find one that they like.  My personal favorites are Urban Decay Primer Potion, and Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Both products are very similar, in texture, performance, and ingredients.  The biggest difference would be the packaging (and $1 in price).

Buy Urban Decay’s Primer Potion at Sephora.com!

Meet Urban Decay’s Primer Potion (0.34 oz) I love this product and have been using since 2005 as my #1 eyeshadow base.  I love the texture and the color payoff I receive from using it.  I’ve worn this through hot summer concert festivals I’ve worked, and it’s definitely done the job!  The only quam I have with it is the awful packaging.  See that biiiiig round part up by the top?  Well, you can’t get the product out of that area, or out of the very bottom thanks to the wand that you use to get it out (this would have been much better in a squeezy tube).  You literally have to cut the bottle in half to get the product out, and when I learned this and did it…. The bottle I thought was empty, still had about half of the product left!

Apparently they’re working on a new package.  It’s going through different stages of testing right now, so I can’t wait to see what their creative team has come up with!

Buy Too Faced’s Shadow Insurance at Sephora.com!

Too Faced’s Shadow Insurance (0.35 oz) is nearly identical to the Primer Potion (literally, I checked the ingredient list!).  I receive the same benefits, only with MUCH better packaging.  I love it, though I’m really excited for the new packaging from Urban Decay.  Looks like a duel here, ladies!

Of course, there are other options as well.

MAC Paint Pots — these aren’t really intended as an eyeshadow base as much as a cream eyeshadow.  I haven’t used them, nor heard the greatest regarding the lastability of the eyeshadow using them.  I do like that you can get them in colors, which will add pigment to your eyeshadow getting more color.
MAC Cream Colour Base — I love that these come in colors, but they’re very emollient rich.  If you’re going to use them, I do recommend using a real base underneath just to achieve some staying power, or you will crease eventually during the day!
MAC Shadesticks — they’ve phased out a lot of colors, unfortunately, but these really did hold eyeshadow on and the colors made your eyeshadows POP!
MAC Paints — these as well are being phased out due to the new Paint Pots, but I preferred the paints.  They dried to a matte consistancy, similar to the Too Faced and Urban Decay bases, only they had pigment.  It’s such a bummer they’re being discontinued.
Benefit Boi-Ing Eyeshadow Base/Concealer — I think this creases more than the others, so I’m not a huge fan unfortunately.  It does work for some.
Lancome Aquatique — I really like this, however the color is kind of dark, which I don’t feel works well with my brighter eyeshadows, or my increasingly pale skin.

Of course, there’s even more, but those are the most popular in my experience.  Try my favorite two!  I hope I helped answer some questions dollfaces.